An emotional Peter Hollingworth last night vowed to use his retirement to do "something constructive" to help vulnerable children and their families as he apologised to the nation for failing to sack a pedophile priest in 1993.

In a 10-minute address to the nation, Dr Hollingworth said he would never have accepted the post of Governor-General if he had imagined his handling of child sex abuse cases when he was Brisbane's Anglican archbishop would have caused such controversy.

"The hard fact I have had to face is that in at least one incident, though I acted in good faith, I got it wrong," he said. "Now the onus is on me to move forward and to do something constructive to help Australia's vulnerable children and their families.

"The decision I have taken is right. I can do no other. In accordance with my oath of office I bear no ill will to anyone. The rest I leave to God and the judgment of history."

Dr Hollingworth is considering returning to Melbourne - where he rose to prominence as head of the Brotherhood of St Laurence - to take on voluntary work helping children.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday said the Queen had accepted Dr Hollingworth's resignation, effective from today, and Tasmanian Governor Sir Guy Green would continue as acting governor-general until a successor was chosen.

"I hope that all Australians will join me in wishing Dr Hollingworth and his wife, Ann, well for the future," Mr Howard said.

Opposition Leader Simon Crean, who led calls last year for Dr Hollingworth to resign or be sacked, commended Dr Hollingworth for his statement.

"Peter Hollingworth has accepted responsibility for his actions and offered a genuine and obviously heartfelt apology to the victims, and the Australian people, for any hurt his actions have caused. The Governor-General has done the right thing," he said.");document.write("

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The address came three days after Dr Hollingworth announced his resignation from the $310,000-a-year vice-regal position - a role he described as "the highest of honours and the humblest of privileges".

Dr Hollingworth used the address to hit out at his critics and the pressure that forced his resignation. "It is my conviction that the office is not necessarily protected from damage or from harm by bowing to popularly generated controversy at any particular time," he said.

He insisted he had done no harm to the office and had only quit because "the continuing controversy surrounding me has made the effective discharge of my community role very difficult to fulfil".

Dr Hollingworth recorded his address yesterday at a private home in the NSW town of Queanbeyan on Canberra's outskirts.

He said he had been sustained by the love of his family in making the "difficult and painful" decision and paid tribute to his wife, Ann, who is being treated for breast cancer.

Dr Hollingworth, 68, said that when Mr Howard asked him to become Australia's 23rd Governor-General, he he did not think there was "anything in my past ministry that would cause a problem for others or for me. If I did, I would certainly not have accepted his invitation."

He said sexual abuse of children was totally abhorrent to him. "Not only is it always inexcusable, it is particularly reprehensible when people who have a special responsibility to nurture and protect children, abuse that trust for whatever reason."

Dr Hollingworth faced the greatest criticism for his failure as archbishop in 1993 to sack a pedophile priest. A church inquiry found his decision untenable.

"Although acting in good faith, I accept the decision I made at the time was not one I would make today. I truly regret the way the matter was handled and I apologise to those involved who have suffered as a consequence," he said.

He also expressed his distress and "profound regret" about an appearance on ABC TV's Australian Story in which he suggested a 14-year-old girl encouraged a sexual relationship with a priest.

"It was never my intention either to condone sexual relations between an adult and an underage young person or to blame the victim in such cases," Dr Hollingworth said.